Council defies calls for popular vote on Brexit deal

October 16, 2018 9:15 AM

At Ashtead Village Day, local people said they wanted a People's Vote

At the October meeting of Mole Valley District Council, Tory councillors and their "Independent" allies combined to defeat a Liberal Democrat motion for the Council to support a "People's Vote" which would allow the public to have the final say on the terms of any Brexit deal. Mole Valley was one of the areas where the majority of voters supported Remain in the 2016 referendum and this year many local residents have expressed their support for a further vote on the terms of the deal.

During the debate, Councillor Paul Kennedy stressed how the calls for a referendum on the deal had widespread cross-party support and that he hoped that both Remain and Leave supporters would agree on the importance of the public giving informed consent once the terms of any proposed deal are known.

After the debate, Paul commented: "It is disappointing that the Conservatives and their allies have voted against giving the people of Mole Valley a say on the Government's Brexit deal.

"It is ironic to be lectured on democracy by the Conservatives, a party that wanted to use the royal prerogative to trigger article 50 instead of asking Parliament. And a party whose recent national conference involved no motions, no amendments, no votes. Just a series of speeches from Government Ministers. Where is the democracy in that?

"For the sake of democracy, for the sake of Mole Valley residents, for the sake of our country, we need a People's Vote on the Government's Brexit deal."

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